Huawei has launched an ambitious initiative to train an additional 150,000 people in Sub-Saharan Africa over the next three years, expanding on its commitment to digital skills development in the region. This announcement builds on Huawei’s initial goal to equip over 100,000 individuals with crucial digital competencies by 2025, a target the company has already surpassed by 120%, achieving over 120,000 trainees within 26 months.
These milestones were announced at the LEAP Summit 2024: ICT Talent and Sustainable Development for Sub-Saharan Africa, co-hosted by Huawei and the African Telecommunications Union (ATU). The summit, an official partner program of Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2024, brought together over 200 guests, including high-ranking ministers, ambassadors, and government officials from across the Sub-Saharan region.
Huawei’s strategy underscores its commitment to building a skilled and resilient workforce capable of driving digital transformation. The initiative aims to address the growing demand for digital skills in Sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 230 million jobs will require such expertise by 2030, according to the International Financial Corporation.
Jeff Wang, senior vice president and President of Public Affairs and Communications at Huawei, highlighted the company’s approach to inclusive and future-oriented talent development. He described the LEAP Digital Talent Development Programme, launched in 2022, as pivotal in fostering leadership, employability, advancement, and possibility across African countries.
Hover Gao, President of Sub-Saharan Africa at Huawei, emphasized the collaborative efforts with government agencies, academia, and industry partners that have enabled significant progress in talent development. Gao noted, “We have made much positive progress in talent development across African countries, but this would not have been possible without the joint efforts of government agencies, academia, and industry.”
ATU Secretary General John OMO underscored the broader impact of digital skills development, stating, “Digital skills development and access to ICT is not about ICT, but about people.” He emphasized the importance of enabling individuals to fully engage in the digital economy, thereby driving socio-economic growth and inclusivity.
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